I've seen it both ways: in a previous post, there was a clause in my employment contract that said I had to repay tuition fees in full for any course that led to a recognised qualification if I left of my own accord within 3 years of completing (ie they wouldn't bill me if I was made redundant).
Of course the ways around this were to take the course but not the exams - so you gained the training but not the qualification - or to pay for the exams yourself.
My current employer has a very active staff training and development unit which offers training courses on workplace related items with no tie in, regardless of the outcome for their standard programme. If there is anything specialised, then they will consider - for example, they are currently paying for somebody to be trained up in British Sign Language, with the clause that she assists my employer in dealing with any deaf people who come to visit my workplace.
John